Collapsible booth.



E. 3. MESSER.

COLLAPSIBLE BOOTH- APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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COLLAPSIBLE BOOTH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. m4.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

D STATES A EARL S. MESSER, 01E PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

COLLAPSIBLE BOOTH.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Application filed April 4, 1914-. I Serial No. 829,706.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, EARL S. Mnssnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and tate of California, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Booth, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to booths such as voting booths which may be collapsed when out of use and stored away.

An object of the invention is to provide a booth that may be compactly folded up and occupy the smallest space possible.

Another object is to provide a booth that may be erected and folded up with great facility.

A further object is to provide a frame for such booth that may be set up in position by stretching it apart and that may be folded up by merely pushing it together.

A still further object is to provide efficient means for conveniently securing canvas sheets to the frame of a collapsible booth whereby the collapsible frame may be braced in position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide shelf for the booth which can be conveniently and rigidly secured in place, which can be removed with great facility, and which will assist in bracing the uprights in extended position. And another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible frame for a booth having a series of compartments in which additional frame work may be conveniently added to provide for additional compartments.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of the specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a booth having two adjoining compartments in position for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the frame work of a booth having two adjoining compartments in position for use, the canvas being removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the frame work of a booth having two adjoining compartments folded up. Fig. f is a perspective of the frame work of a booth having a series of compartments attached to one another. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental detail showing the means for attaching the shelves in place.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a frame work is provided forming a booth having two adjoining compartments which have their entrances facing in opposite directions. The frame work comprises two flat uprights l, 2, one on each side of the entrance of one compartment which may be called for purposes of clearness the left compartment, two angular uprights 8, a, one on each side of the partition between the two adjoining compartments, and two fiat uprights 5, 6, one on each side of the entrance of the other compartment which may be called the right compartment.

The uprights 1, 3 and 5 are positioned with respect to one another so that the fiat uprights l and 5 and the outer side 7 of the angular upright 3 will be in alinement with one another; and the uprights :2, i and 6 are positioned with respect to one another so that the fiat uprights 2 and 6 and the outer side 8 of the angular upright 4 will be in alinement with one another. The flat uprights and the outer sides 7 and 8 of the angular uprights are in alinement with one another and are provided with longitudinal slots 11 near their upper ends; and the inwardly extending sides 9 and 10 of the uprights 3 and 1 respectively are in alinement with one another and are provided wish longitudinal slots 11 near their upper en s.

The upright 1 and the side 7 of the upright 3 are connected with one another by two pivotally connected links 12 and 13. The lower end of the link 12 is connected to the inside of the upright 1 by a rivet 14- and the upper end of the link 12 extending on the outside of the side 7 is provided with a rivet 15 which is slidably mounted in the slot 11 of such side 7; and the lower end of the link 13 is connected to the outside of the side 7 by a rivet 16 and the upper end of said link 13 extending on the outside of the upright 1 is provided with a rivet 17 which is slidably mounted in the slot 11 of such upright 1. The side 7 and the upright 5 are connected with one another by two pivotally connected links 18 and 19. The lower end of the link 18 is secured to the rivet 16 between the link 13 and side 7 and the upper end of the link 18 extending on the inside of the upright 5 is provided with a rivet 20 which is slidably mounted in slot 11 of such upright 5; and the lower end of the link 19 is connected to the outside of the upright 5 by a rivet 21 and the upper end of the link 12 while the link 19 at its middle is pivotally secured to the middle on the out side of the link 18. The arrangement of the two sets of links 12 and 13, and 18 and 19 is such that when the frame is folded to-' gether, the links 12 and 18 will fold along side of one another and the links 13 and 19 will fold alongside of oneanother. Similarly, the upright 2 and side 8 are connected with one another by links 22 and 23. The lower end of the link 22 is connected to the outside of the upright 2 by a rivet 24 and the upper end of the link 22 extending on the outside of the side 8' is provided with a rivet 25 which is slidably niountedin the slot 11 of the side 8; and the lower end of the link 23 is connected to the outside of the side 8 by a rivet 26, and the upper end of thelink 23 extends on the inside of the upright 2 and is provided with a rivet 27 which is slidably mounted in the slot 11 of the upright 2. The side 8 and the upright 6 are connected with one another by links 28 and 29. The lower end of the link 28 is connected to the rivet 26 on the outside of the link 23, and the upper end of the link 28 extends on the outside of upright 6 and is connected to the rivet 30 which is slidably mounted in the slot 11 of such upright 6; and the lower end of the link 29 extends on the inside of upright 6 and is connected to such upright by a rivet 31, and the upper end of the link 29 is connected to the rivet 25 and is disposed between the link 22 and side 8. By means of rivets 54 the link 23 at its middle is connected to the inside of the link 22 at its middle and link 29 at its middle is connected to the inside of the link 28 at its middle, the arrangement being such that when the uprights and connecting links are folded together the links 22 and 28 will lie against one another and the links 23 and 29 will lie against one another.

The sides 9 and 10 of the uprights 3 and 4 respectively are connected with one an other by pivotally connected links 32 and 33. The lower ends of the links 32 and 33 are connected to the right of the side '9 and to" the left of the side 10 respectivelyby rivets 34, and the upper ends of the links 32 and 33 extend to the right of the side 10 and to the left of the side 9 respectively and are connected by rivets 35 slidably mounted in the slots 11 of such sides 10 and 9. The links 32 and 33 are connected to one another at their middle portions respectively by a rivet 55, the link 33 lying against the left side of the link 32.

To provide. a sliding support for the entrance canvas or curtain, and to brace the uprights on each side of an entrance the proper distance apart, a bar 38 is pivotally connected to the upper end of one upright and formed to be locked with the upper end of the otherupright. For thispurpose, the upper ends 39 of the flat uprights 1, 2, 5 and 6 are bent axially of the bodies of said uprights and at an angle of ninety degrees to the bodies of said. uprights. Inthe present instance, one end of the bar 38 is pivotally connected to the bentportion 39 of the upright 2 by a rivet 40, and the other end of the bar is provided with a downwardly facing recess 41 which is adapted to hook onto a rivet 42 secured to the bent portion 39 of the upright 1. Similarly, a bar 38 is secured to the uprights 5 and 6.

To provide a support in each booth,'removable shelves E and F are provided. In the present instance, these shelves are formed of two boards. 43 and 44 hinged to one another at their adjacent longitudinal edges," one hinge 51 beingshown in Fig. 5. In each lateral edge of the board 43 an L shaped recess 45 is provided having the free extremity of its short leg opening out of the lower face of the board 43. On the parallel I links 13 and 23 of the left booth of Fig. 2,

there are provided studs'46 projectingin-' l wardly' to engage the recesses 45 of thebo'ard. 43 of shelf E thereby forming a support for such board. Near each side'of the rear edge of the board 44- a stud 47 is provided to engage openings 48 formed in the sides 9 and v 10, the openings being adaptedto permit the heads of the studs to be passed there-' through so that the shanks of the studs will support the rear of the shelf. The shelf F formed on the right of the sides 9 and 10 is secured in place similarly to the shelf E just described exceptthat it is at a higher level than said shelf E so as to permit openings 48 to be formed in the sides 9 and 10 for the shelf F without interfering with the openings 48 for the shelf E. The shelves thus arranged as shown are of a height suitable to hold a ballot for markingby a voter. r

When the frame is in erect supporting position canvas sheetsor curtains are secured to the same, such as the curtains A and B for the side walls of the booth, a curtain O as a partition between the right and left compartments, and a curtain Dfor each of the entrances.

For supporting the curtain A the rivets 24, 26 and 31 are provided with extended. 7

heads, the rivets 40 and 41 with extended outer ends, a stud 49 formed at the upper end of the side 8, and the rivet 25 provided 7 with an outwardly extending head. The curtain A is provided with eyelets to receive if the rivets 24, 26, 31, 25, 40, 41 and stud 49.

It will be seen that the engagement of the curtain A with the rivet25 will serve. as, a g

locking or bracing means as the upper ends of the links 22 and 29 will thereby be prevented from moving upward in the slot 11. The curtain B is supported similarly. Obviously, the curtains A and B may be permanently secured to the rivets 24, 26 and 31 and to the rivets 40 and 11 and stud 49 and only detachably secured to the rivet 25 for locking the brakes against movement, thus holding the uprights in extended position.

The sides 9 and 10 of the angular uprights 3, i are provided with studs 50 at their'upper ends and extended heads on the rivets 34 to engage eyelets formed near the corners of the curtain O. Obviously, curtain C may also be permanently secured in place if desired. The entrance curtains D are provided with rings 52 at their upper edges which are adapted to be passed over their respective bars 38 to slide along such bars and thereby permit the entrance curtains to open or close their respective entrances.

In Fig. 4 a construction is illustrated showing how a number of the adjoining right and left compartments shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are connected to one another, the connecting means forming an important part of the present invention. The flat uprights and intermediate angular uprights of each side wall are identical with those of the side wall formed by the flat upright 2, angular upright i and flat upright 6 of Fig. 2, therefore wherever convenient like parts will bear like reference characters. The partition between the additional right and left compartments is slightly different than that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. To the outer side of the side 8 of the angular upright 4, a stud 56 is secured a short distance below the rivet 26 and another stud 57 is secured a short distance above the slot 11. To these studs 56 and 57 a short angular upright 58 is secured, the outer side 59 of which, being parallel with the side 8 of the upright 4, is provided with two slots, one 60 near its up per end and the other 61 near its lower end, these slots terminating in enlarged openings 62 and 63 at their lower ends. The arrangement is such that when it is desired to secure the upright 58 to the upright i the openings 62 and 63 will simultaneously be passed over the studs 56 and 57, the upright 58 then lowered, and the slots of said studs 60 and 61 receive the shanks of said studs. The inwardly extending side 64 of the upright 58 is provided with a slot 11 near its upper end similar to the inwardly extending side 9 of the upright 3 shown in Fig. 2. The remainder of the partition is identical with the partition between the right and left compartments shown in Fig. 2. By means of such studs 56 and 57, upright 58 and the parts connected thereto, any number of additional pairs of compartments may be added, two additional pairs of compartments being shown in Fig. 4, similar parts of which bear like reference characters to the parts of construction just described. The corner of the board 44 adjacent to the outer side 59 of the upright 58 of these additional compartments each have a notch 65 to accommodate said outer side 59.

When it is'desired to fold up the booth it is only necessary to remove the eyelet of the curtains A and B from the rivets 41, then to raise the bars 88, slip off the curtains D, swing said bars 38 down alongside of the uprights to which they are connected, then remove the shelves, next remove the eyelet of the curtain A from the rivet 25 and the eyelet of the curtain B from the rivet 15, and press the uprights together. Obviously if desired the curtains A, B and C may be entirely removed from the uprights before pressing the uprights together. The writing shelves are two boards hinged to one another and when desired to be stored away may be folded together to occupy the smallest space possible. i

Obviously various changes and modifications in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim 1. A collapsible booth having uprights, links connecting said uprights with one another, the links having pivotal and slidable connections with said uprights, and curtains to be secured to the uprights and to the pivotal and slidable connections of said links with said uprights to hold said uprights in extended position.

2. In a collapsible booth, the combination with uprights, of links connecting said uprights with one another, said links having pivotal and slidable connections with said uprights, curtains to be secured to the uprights and to the pivotal and slidable connections of said links with said uprights, and means for locking said uprights in extended position.

3. In a collapsible booth, the combination with an extensible frame, of curtains fas tened. to said frame, the fastening of said curtains to said frame serving to hold the frame in extended position.

t. In a collapsible booth, the combination with uprights, two links connecting each two adjacent uprights of the side walls of said booth, said links having a fixed pivotal connection at their lower ends with the uprights and having a slidable pivotal connection at their upper ends with the uprights, and curtains to be fastened to said uprights and links, the fastening of said links with said curtains serving to hold the uprights in extended position.

5. In a collapsible booth, the combination with uprights, of links connecting the uprights with one another, curtains to be fastened to said uprights and links, and a shelf locked in place by said links.

6. A booth comprising an extensible frame, and curtains attached to said frame and holding said frame in extended position.

7. In a booth, the combination with uprights, of links connecting the uprights with one another to form side walls, a bar pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the uprights at the entrance to the booth, fastening means secured to the upper end of the adjacent upright at said entrance to receive the free end of said bar and to interlock with said bar, curtains to be fastened to said uprights and links to lock the links against movement, and an entrance curtain to be slidably supported on said bar.

' 8. In a booth having two adjoining compartments with entrances facing in opposite directions, the combination with flat uprights for the entrances, angular uprights intermediate said fiat uprights, links connecting said fiat uprights with the angular uprights, said links being secured to the outer sides of the angular uprights, and

other links connecting the angular uprights with one another, said other links being secured to the inwardly extending sides of said angular uprights. V r 1 9. A booth comprising a, frame having uprights and having links foldably connecting said uprights together, and a detach able shelf locked against movement by the links when said links are in unfolded position.

10. In a booth, having a series of two adjoining compartments having entrances, the combination with flat uprightsfor the entrances, of angular uprights intermediate said fiat uprights, links connecting said flat uprights with the angular uprights, said links being secured to the outer sides of the angular uprights, other links connecting the angular uprights with one another, said other links being secured to the inwardly extending sides of said angular uprights, studs secured to the outer sides of said angular uprights, and short angular uprights secured to said studs to permit the links of the adjoining pair of compartments to be connected thereto to form the partition between said adjoining compartments, said latter links connectlng said short angular upright with the angular upright forming the other side of the adjoining compart-' ments.

, 11. A booth comprising a frame having uprights and having links collapsibly C'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

shelfcomposed of two members hinged'to gether, one of said members being detachs ably connected to two of the uprights and the other 'member being detachably' connected to the links connecting said two uprights to other of the uprights. I

12. In a collapsible booth, the combination with uprights, of links connecting the uprights with one another, fastened to said uprights and links, a shelf,

curtains to be;

there being L-shaped recesses on thelateral edges, and studs on the rear longitudinal edges of said shelf, and studs in adjacent links to engage the recesses of said; shelf, there being openings in the uprights to re ceive the studs of said shelf whereby, to support the shelf .in position and to bracethe I uprights in extendedpositiong 13. In a collapsible booth, the combination with uprights, of links connecting. the uprights with one another, being L-shaped recesses on the lateral edges of said shelves, the short leg of each of said recesses'extending downward and out of the lower face of said shelf, studs on therear a shelf, there" longitudinal edges of said shelf, and other Z studs in adjacent 'links to engage the recesses of said shelf, there being openings: in the uprights to receive the studs of said shelfvwhereby to support the shelf in posi tion and position. v

1d. Ina collapsible booth, the combination with upri hts, of links connecting the uprights with one another, curtains. to be to brace the uprights in extended fastened to said uprights and links, a shelf, 7

165 each side, links collapsibly connecting tovided with a-slot, a shelf, studs on the shelf designed to detachably engage the slots, and

.means detachably connecting said shelf to the links. 4 r y In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set, my hand at Los Angeles, California this 28th day of March, 1914.

In presence of r a J AMEs R. -TOWNSEND, .GUSTAV DREWS.

Washington, D. Q.

EARL s. MESSER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,134,399, granted April 6, 1915, upon the application of Earl S. Messer, of Pasadena, California, for an improvement in Collapsible Booths, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 9, for the Word brakes read links; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of May, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,134,399. 

